The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-07
MR.. TURPIES ELECTION.
A Species of Political Larceny That Must Be
Checked Press Comment.
Political Larceny That Must Be Checked.

Political Larceny That Must Be Checked.
New York Tribune.
Turpie, Of Indiana, is not a Senator, but
claimant He will present himself with GER
tifcate signed by the Democratic Governor. II
is true, but that is not the only evidence which
the laws and the Senate require. The duly ap-
pointed presiding officer of the joint convention,
by which it is pretended he was elected who
was presiding over the body at the time. Will
certify to the Senate. he declared in the con-
vention, that there was no election The hnan-
cial officers Of the State will refuse to recognize
as legally organized the Senate which took part
in the vote The Lieutenantgovernor elected
by the people last November, having been
fraudulently excluded from his rights as
President of the Senate, will offer his
protest. The Republican members OF
both House and Senate will protesas
| by the people was illegal, and that the seating
| of another, who had no right to a place in that
| body, gave the one more vote required to make
| Turpe a pretended majority. All these ques-
tions will have to be passed upon, not by a eau
Gus Of law breakers, but by the Senate OF the
| United States before this fraud can reap its re-
ward.
| 1t is most desirable that this peculiarly impu-
| dent attempt to steal seat in the Senate should
| be met at the very threshold with effective re-
buke. The control OF the Senate for two years
| is not the only stake. Even if, besides Reagan
of Texas, and the West Virginia Senators no.
| yet chosen, the Democrats could seat claimants
| from Indiana and New Jersey, they would have
only thirty-seven members, while the Republic
ans have thirty eight without and thirty nine
| with Mr.. Riddleberger BY voting with the
| Democrats Mr. Riddleberger could only make a
| tie. If allowed to steal two Northern
| seats by fraud this year, there are Democrats
who will stop at no crime to secure the restthey
| want.
| Senators must realize that it is time to put ar
end to this business. They have listened with a
| comfortable indifference much too long TO ac-
| counts of crimes in Southern States, by which
| the rightful power of the people has been great
| y abridged. This year and last desperate
| struggles have produced an epidemic OF crimes
| in Illinois, Ohio, Indiana ana New Jersey. II
the Senate goes on admitting creatures of fraud
resent the will of the people within about two
years. The place to begin indignant and un
fiinchng resistance is when the fraudulent
claimant from Indiana presents himself, asking
a right to WELD as much power in the govern
ment of this country Senator of undoubteC
right from New York, Pennsylvania or Ohio
Mr.. Tnrpie, the claimant ought to be told to &C
back and get elected by valid Legislature rep
resenting the people. if ne can.
When treason threatened the Government in
1861, it cost Senators something of wrench to
put out Bright and Fitch, of Indiana, as unfit
for seats in that body. Either of these expelled
members had far better right to sit and vote IN
the Senate than Mr.. Turpie. VINO comes as the
creature of crime alone. The rebellion against
law in which the later Democracy of 1887 IS en-
gagged does not make the mistake of retiring
from the Senate with nose in air; it stays ant
helps to gather other fruits of fraud-to admi
other pretenders as fast the people in the diff
ferent States can be robbed of their rights
This has gone far enough, and the new kind o
| rebellion needs to be arrested in the Hagran
case Of Turpie from Indiana.